about
partly/mainly/all about, do sth about, about time, about to do
Collocation
132 cards to learn, plus a reading text that puts the key phrases in context.
132 cards
partly/mainly/all about, do sth about, about time, about to do
Collocation
act your age, (at/by/from) the age of, under age, school/working/etc age, with age, age limit, age bracket/group, (in the) Stone/Bronze/Iron Age
Collocation
take/spend ages (doing), ages ago, seems/feels like ages (since)
Collocation
run its course, in/during the course of, in due course, on a course, course of action/events
Collocation
course day make sb's day, day by day, from day to day, any day now, in this day and age, day off, day out, day trip
Collocation
come to an end, bring sth to an end, put an end to, at/by the (very) end (of), no end in sight (to), at an end, (for) hours/weeks/etc on end, in the end
Collocation
hardly ever, if ever, first/only/etc sth ever (to), bigger/better/etc than ever, as ever, ever since, forever/ for ever
Collocation
hours keep regular/late hours, work long hours, for hours (on end), (during) school/working/etc hours, at/until all hours, after hours, out of hours
Collocation
get/find/take/do a job, it's a good job, leave/lose your job, make/do a good/bad job of, make the best of a bad job, have a job to do / doing, sb's job to do, out of a job, on the job, job losses
Collocation
take/be a moment, just/wait a moment, any moment (now), at the moment, at this/that moment in time, in a moment, the right moment (to/for), the moment of truth
Collocation
never you never know, never again, never mind, never mind if/whether,/etc:, never ever; never-ending
Collocation
now is the time to, from now on, for now, up to now, right now, now that, any day/moment/etc now, just now, every now and then/again, nowadays
Collocation
take office, run for office, public office, head office, office holder, office block, office hours, office party
Collocation
on time, on and on, on end, from now/that moment/then on, You're on!
Collocation
second give/take sb a second to do, in a second,within seconds, seconds later, a split second
Collocation
have/make a good/fine/bad/etc start, get off to a good/flying/head/bad/etc start, make a start (on/at), (right) from the start, for a start, (at/from the) start of, get (sth) started
Collocation
term in the long/short term, end of term, term of/in office, term time, prison/jail term, fixed term, long-/short-term
Collocation
time pass the time, spend time, make time, find the time, take time, in/on time, by the time, time after time, part-time, full-time, time frame, time limit
Collocation
work on/in/with/as/at/for, work like magic, work both ways, work a treat, work wonders, work your way, at work, out of work
Collocation
used for saying that it is better to solve a problem now, rather than leave it until later when it may be more difficult to deal with
Fixing it now is a stitch in time.
used for telling someone to wait for something and not try to make you hurry
You’ll get promoted, all in good time.
immediately or in a way that shows that you have no doubts about doing something
She’ll help you at the drop of a hat.
used for saying that something happened or existed before you were born or before you lived or worked somewhere
That show was popular before your time.
permanently, without the possibility of change in the future
He’s leaving the company for good.
for now - At this moment in time
We’re using this office for the time being.
sometimes, but not often
I visit my old friends from time to time.
just in time to prevent something bad happening
We arrived in the nick of time.
an extremely long time
I haven’t seen her in donkey’s years.
if you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it suddenly and do not take time to plan it or think carefully about it
We decided to go on the spur of the moment.
very rarely
I only see him once in a blue moon.
appear or happen suddenly or unexpectedly
Ben had to go back to work. Something's cropped up there
start doing something in a very enthusiastic way
sometimes you've got to take a chance and dive in
be in a particular place or state after doing something or because of doing it
keep on doing that and you'll end up in serious trouble
begin (with)
I'd like to kick off with a quick look at the last month's sales figures
stop working
do you want to knock off early tonight?
start working hard, especially when you should have done this earlier
it's time for me to knuckle down and get this finished
stop doing or using something, especially for a short period of time
lay off teasing you brother, Julie!
nd someone's employment, especially temporarily, because there is not enough work for them
they had to cut back production and lay off workers
if somthing lies ahead, it is going to happen to you in the future
a bright future lies ahead of him
work at different times from usual because you have not worked enough at the normal times
sorry, I'm late. I'll make up for the lost time this evening.
continue doing something in a determined way, despite difficulties, opposition or interruptions
they pressed ahead regardless of objections
if you are snowed under, you have too much of something to deal with
I'm snowed under work at the moment
accept some work or responsibility
I can't take on any more work at the moment
start to employ someone
we're not taking on any new staff at the moment
help someone to get to the end of a difficult period of time, especially by giving them money
could you lend me $50 to tide me over until pay day?
spend time in a relaxed way when you have nothing else to do
we whiled away the Saturday afternoon siting by the lake
end or finish something gradually, gradually reduce work before stopping completely
the party started to wind down around two am
sudden and unexpected, often in an unpleasant way
Our friendship came to an abrupt end
something that is no longer suitable for or relevant to modern times
She regards the marriage ceremony as a quaint anachronism
happening once a year
We've got our annual conference next month
calculated or considered over a period of one year
You'll receive an annual salary of €100,000
old and valuable
We offer a wide range of antique furniture
an old object such as a piece of furniture or jewelry that is valuable
The desk is an antique
a period of 100 years
His family has ruled Morocco since the 17th century
arranged or described in the order in which events happened
The paintings are presented in chronological order
a country's government departments and the people who work in them
How long have you worked for the civil service?
someone who pays for or uses the services of a professional person
She advises clients on their investments
someone who works in the same organisation or department as you
Friends and colleagues will remember him with affection
a senior doctor in a hospital who is an expert in a particular medical subject
She's a consultant cardiologist
an expert or a professional person whose job is to give help and advice on a particular subject
She's a design consultant
alive or existing at the same time as a particular event or person
Contemporary sources offer a very different interpretation
modern or relating to the present time
I'm not very keen on contemporary art
someone alive at the same time as a particular event or person
Most of his contemporaries regarded him as a mere eccentric
a period of ten years
Prices have risen sharply in the last decade
the period of time during which something continues to happen or exist
The duration of the film is 110 minutes
someone or something that is effective works well and produces the result that was intended
Humour is often far more effective than shouting
someone or something that is efficient works well and produces good results by using the available time
The new machine is far more efficient than the old one
if time elapses, it passes
Another hour elapsed and still the wind continued to howl
a period of time that has a particular quality or character
We are living in an era in which technology is developing very rapidly
continuing for ever or for a very long time
She has earned our eternal gratitude
a senior manager in a business or other organisation
We've arranged a meeting with some of the company's top executives
if an agreement, offer or official document expires, the period of time during which it exists ends
The loan offer is due to expire this week
to make someone leave their job, sometimes as a punishment
She was fired for refusing to comply with safety regulations
the number of times that something happens during a period of time
Changes in sea temperature will increase the frequency of hurricanes
to try to persuade someone to leave their job and go to work for another company
He was headhunted by a large electronics company
immediate
Recently developed medical tests can give instantaneous results
intended to last or perform an activity only until someone or something permanent or final is available
This is only an interim report
the time between one thing happening and another, or while waiting for something permanent to become available
In the interim between John Smith dying and Tony Blair becoming leader, Margaret Beckett acted as leader of the Labour Party
a period of time between two events
The normal interval between our meetings is six weeks
a short break between the parts of something such as a play or concert
How long is the interval?
to stop gradually or for a short time
At this point the waiter came up with Maggie's drink and conversation lapsed
if an official document, decision or right lapses, it is no longer effective
The permit was extended for another year before being left to lapse
a period of time between two events
There was a lapse of ten years between his visits
a short or temporary period when you fail or forget to do things in the right way
The man admitted driving over the speed limit and apologised for the lapse
a period of time away from your job or the armed forces
Tony, who had been granted leave, was home for several weeks
the length of time that something exists or works
There are plans to extend the lifetime of the power station
the period of time when someone is alive
He achieved a lot in his short lifetime
having existed for a long time
There's a longstanding tradition in our family of giving presents on Christmas Eve
the ways in which a company encourages people to buy its products
Jim, come and meet the firm's new director of marketing
a period of 1,000 years or the beginning of a period of 1,000 years
People celebrating the millennium filled the streets
a large company that has offices, shops or factories in several countries
My uncle works for a large multinational
a multinational company or business has offices, shops or factories in several countries
My uncle works for a large multinational corporation
no longer used because of being replaced by something newer
Most computer hardware rapidly becomes obsolete
if something is overdue, it should have been done now
This change in attitude is long overdue
an amount of time during which something happens
The long dry period ended with torrential rain
happening or existing for a long time or for all time in the future
She suffered permanent brain damage as a result of the accident
a particular period of time during the development of something
The war was about to enter its final phase
to decide that something will not be done at the time when it was planned for, but at a later time
Our exam has been postponed until next Monday
happening, existing or done before a particular time
Illegally parked cars may be removed at any time without prior notice
all the businesses, industries and services that are not owned or managed by the government
There is less job security in the private sector
the activity of encouraging or supporting something
The campaign is concerned with the promotion of health
a move to a higher level in a company, institution or sport
We try to fill our executive positions by promotion from within
the process of attracting people's attention to a product or event, for example by advertising
The government's planning to introduce a ban on the promotion of tobacco products
immediate or quick
Prompt action is required
happening or arriving at exactly a particular time
The meeting got off to a prompt start at ten o'clock
the possibility that something will happen, especially something good
The prospects for employment in the technology sector are especially good right now
intended to be temporary, and likely to be changed when other arrangements are made
The provisional government lasted three months
if an arrangement is provisional, the people involved have not yet said that they definitely want to do it
We've made a provisional reservation for next week
the industries and services that are supported by tax money and controlled by the government of a country
The typical member of Parliament has worked elsewhere in the public sector
arriving or happening at the time agreed on
Mrs Marsh liked her guests to be punctual
to get someone to help you do something
The club has recruited volunteers to help
to get someone to work in a company or join an organisation
We won't be recruiting again until next year
a new member of a military force or an organisation, especially someone who has recently joined
She's responsible for training new recruits
if someone is redundant, they have been told they must leave their job because they are no longer needed
Five thousand miners were made redundant when the tin market collapsed
to tell someone they can no longer work at their job
He was sacked after repeatedly arriving late at work
available only during a particular time of year
The work was well paid but seasonal
suitable or typical of the time of year it is now
We needed to find some seasonal music
happening or done at the same time
In simultaneous announcements, the two men resigned from their jobs
the amount of time that something lasts
Nearly 100 witnesses testified over a span of 20 days
to last for a particular period of time, especially a long period
His career spanned half a century
a period of time, usually a short one
I had a two-week spell in hospital
a period of time spent doing something
He came to California after a brief stint as a waiter in New York
to refuse to work for a period of time as a protest about your pay conditions of work
Pilots were striking for 6% salary increase
a period of time during which people refuse to work, as a protest about pay or conditions of work
A strike by transport workers was held on 12th August
happening or coming after something else
In subsequent interviews, Steele has contradicted his original story
existing, done or used for only a limited period of time
These measures are only temporary
happening at the most suitable time
Thanks to the UN's timely intervention, a crisis was avoided
the time when something was produced
He's got a collection of guns of all types and vintages
all of the wine produced in a particular year, or the year it was produced
This year's vintage will be the best in many years
showing the best or most typical qualities of someone
She turned in a vintage display of tennis to win the title
a vintage object or vehicle is old, but kept in good condition because it is interesting or attractive
My father has a number of vintage motorcycles
vintage wine is excellent in quality and was made several years ago
Let's get some vintage champagne!
A short text using 36 of the key phrases. Tap a highlighted phrase for its meaning.
Most children begin their studies at 5 or 6 years old in , followed by . After that comes , which consists of through . Then there’s – through – and , which is through .
After high school, you to see which ones will accept you. You and then wait for the results. If you in high school, you might to help pay the tuition (the cost of studying).
In college, you’ll on various subjects. You should always as the teacher is . Some teachers may ask the students to or and , or . After you , the teacher will and .
To evaluate your progress, you’ll . If you get the minimum number of points required, you’ve ; if you don’t get the minimum number of points, you’ve failed the test. It’s also possible to .
If the course proves to be too difficult, or if you don’t like it, you can or . “Withdraw from” is the more formal expression, and “drop” is the more informal expression. Most college students . To talk about a concentration of studies, you can use “major” as a verb or a noun.
When you , you’ll . Afterwards, you can say you in the area of your concentration. You can have a , or .